The Rejected Werewolf Princess by Didiadeyemi

CAMILLA'S POV

It wasn't in my nature to go to sleep while the entire palace was on a countdown timer, but somehow Ryker managed to drag me into bed and Lull me to sleep. When I woke up, I was equal parts relieved that I had rested and embarrassed that I was able to do so easily.

It took me a second to remember what happened last night and as soon as I did, I was on my feet in an instant. I got ready in record time and found Ryker in his office. He looked like he hadn't slept a wink all night and I felt guilty that I slept so freely and he hadn't rested at all. “Anything?” I asked but he shook his head. “What about the elders? Have they found anything yet?”

“No, the palace is still on lock down and I have people watching the girls to make sure that they are safe and unaffected by all of this."

I hummed. “We have less than two days to figure this out because we cannot keep the palace on lock down forever. We have to do something but I don’t know what. I cannot just leave this to the elders. They are going to do a shit job."

Ryker sighed. “Do you want to go talk to the friends? We might be able to get something out of them.”

“You don’t have to come with me. I can do it myself”

He snorted. “As if I would leave you to do this alone. My powers can wait, Camilla, they aren't running away. They will still be here once we are done.”

I didn't think it was possible to love Ryker any more than I already did. He was being incredibly selfless. If he had chosen to sit back and handle his own issues, no one would have held him to a fault, but he put his aside for the betterment of the entire palace. It was one of the reasons I knew for a fact that he was going to get the better of this entire ordeal. There was no way Ryker would ever become like Reina, it was impossible. They were two completely different people. Where she was self serving, he was not. He was good, at his core, that was who he was. Even when he did not so good things, he did them for the right reasons.

The friends were all huddled together in the same guest room. They hadn't changed from their last night's clothes and I could tell that none of them had slept. They sat close together on the bed and the moment they saw me, they rushed to their feet and bowed.

“Did you find anything yet, your majesty?” one of the girls asked and I opened my mouth to speak but no words would come out. I saw the hope in her eyes deflate as she sank back onto the bed. “I presume they are long gone by now.”

“The palace is on a complete lock down, I promise you, no one can go in or out right now without my permission,” I assured her. “We are doing everything we can to find out who did this to you but I wanted to ask you a few questions if you are willing to answer them"

sure,” she nodded with her spine straight. It was clear that she was the unofficial leader in the group. Everyone turned to her for support and she was the only one speaking directly to

“Can you describe this other

he was one of your elders or something and you had asked them to look into it. I don’t like him much, he was an asshole

into the pack and asked for permission to question them. I can talk to him after this

the elders was. rude to you. After all that happened, that is the last thing you deserve. I already have most of the story from what

was on the big side and I think it was male. It came out of nowhere. We were so scared that we just ran. It managed to get a hold of” her words caught in her throat and she wiped at some stray tears that leaked from the corner of

chase after it but it was faster. I figured the palace guards

whoever was responsible for this is punished, you have my word.” “What if you don't catch him?” she asked and I stilled. “You just gave your word. What happens if he isn't

there will be a maid positioned right outside of your door. She will get you

feet away from the room, that I let out an exhausted breath. There were thousands of

finally got the list that you needed. It was a hassle to get from every entrance or exit but there were about three hundred names. I crossed out all the people who were accounted for at

we have fifty plausible suspects,” I

you cut out any females,” Ryker suggested and

have

the very low servants who would have smaller wolves,” I offered and it took a little longer this time but Juan crossed

“Twenty.’

know what else we could cut out so I nodded. “Thank you, Juan, I think

he asked

be with your

Would we call them all out and make them shift in front of the friends to see if they recognized the wolf? It seemed like the only plausible solution but the fact remained that if one of them was guilty, and they caught wind that we were